Caterham F1 launch 2012 car

[woof]

It never really did bode well that Caterham F1 team were going to "launch" their new car later this week to the world by putting it on the Feb cover of F1 racing magazine.

However, the embargo was thrown somewhat by the magazine arriving early, forcing CaterhamF1 to quickly push photos out on their FB and twitter feeds, as their new website isn't ready to launch !

Epic fail !

Really odd that the car has no Caterham branding on it ? Does that signal yet another name change at some point this season ?

Haven't really got any comments about the car - but it ain't pretty. And that's never a good sign.

[Life Saab Itch]

Very slimline around the rear end.


The nosecone looks to have the same aerodynamic properties if a real Caterham. :/

[woof]

It's a weird looking nose - in fact it's ugly as sin !

More photos of the new Caterham F1 nose

[rdjohn]

An interesting piece from Garry Anderson explaining why the front of this year's cars will be butt ugly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/formula_one/167279...

I think that Anderson's contributions for the BBC this year may well compensate for loosing MB to SKY. Sadly this technical stuff is far more important than driver ability nowadays.

[woof]

Actually just noticed there is some Caterham branding on the nose cose and front wing. In their traditionally font.

( I got loads of stick from Caterham marketing last year, when I pointed out that originally it looked like a 60's psychedelic band logo ). Glad they took my advice

[Streps]

Looking at more rear pics.
I can see alot of RB5 tub and RB6 sidepods in there..

Makes sense as they are using Red Bull tech.

[Mr_Thyroid]

It'd look better if they brightened up the shade of green a bit. Yes I know it's British Racing Green but it's so dreary.

[Allyc85]

Bloody ugly that is! Still if it moves the team forwards into the midfield then who cares?

[Streps]

They really should paint some crocodile teeth on the side.

[Eric Mc]

If it was a Jordan, it would.

[Life Saab Itch]

Reminds me of the 2009 BMW nose. With the Red Bull suspension mounts built in to the top surface.


It didn't work for st on that BMW...


Fingers crossed for them. Heikki was in my top 5 drivers last year.

Jarno was in my bottom 5

[guerilla radio]

Has the front end been designed like that to meet safety rules? if it is id imagine they’ll be a few that look like that by the time the season starts.

[weyland yutani]

F1 cars just keep getting uglier and uglier

[vtgts300kw]

When can we expect the other teams to launch? Anyone have any dates?

[LocoBlade]

guerilla radio said:

Has the front end been designed like that to meet safety rules?

Yes

Borrowed from the excellent ScarbsF1 blog http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/f1-2012-r...

Basically the entire nosecone now has to sit below the yellow box to reduce the chance of the nose going over the cockpit side of another car in a crash, but the tub can remain at the same height as last year, and as a high nose/tub is beneficial for optimumising downforce, the noses are likely to follow along the bottom of that yellow box and the tubs are likely to maximise their height too, hence the dislocated nose look

[pits]

They made them look like a F1 car that was made in China for a cheap Matchbox set, but the ones you buy in packs of 50, yuck!

[woof]

vtgts300kw said:

When can we expect the other teams to launch? Anyone have any dates?

Jan 26th: Caterham
Feb 1st: McLaren
Feb 3rd: Ferrari, Force India*
Feb 5th: Lotus*
Feb 6th: Red Bull*, Sauber
Feb 7th: Toro Rosso
Feb 21st: Marussia

TBA: Mercedes, Williams, HRT

• To be launched on teams website

[ajprice]

Gaz. said:

I hope they won't all be so bloody ugly.

I really hope there is a nicer way of being within the rules than having that hump in the middle of the nose.

[team underdog]

That's possibly the most horrific front end I've seen on a modern car. Fingers crossed other teams have a more aesthetically appealing design!

[IanUAE]

With that nose perhaps they are hoping to be "snapping at the heels of the top 5 teams".